Volume I Part 55 (1/2)

”CHARLES W. DORSEY, _of Elkridge_.”

After the death of his mother, Banneker dwelt alone until the day of his death, having never married, his manners were gentle and engaging, his benevolence proverbial. His home became a place of great interest to visitors, whom he always received cordially, and treated hospitably all who called.

”We found the venerable star-gazer,” says the author of the Memoir of Susanna Mason, ”under a wide spreading pear tree, leaden with delicious fruit; he came forward to meet us, and bade us welcome to his lowly dwelling. It was built of logs, one story in height, and was surrounded by an orchard. In one corner of the room, was suspended a clock of his own construction, _which_ was a true hearald of departing hours.

He was careful in the little affairs of life as well as in the great matters. He kept record of all his business transactions, literary and domestic. The following extracts from his Account Book exhibit his love for detail.

”'Sold on the 2nd of April, 1795, to b.u.t.tler, Edwards & Kiddy, the right of an Almanac, for the year 1796, for the sum of 80 dollars, equal to 30.

”'On the 30th of April, 1795, lent John Ford five dollars.

1 17s. 6d.

”'12th of December, 1797, bought a pound of candles at 1s.

8d.

”'Sold to John Collins 2 qts. of dried peaches 6d. ”1 qt.

mead 4d.

”'On the 26th of March, came Joshua Sanks with 3 or 4 bushels of turnips to feed the cows.

”'13th of April, 1803, planted beans and sowed cabbage seed.'

”He took down from a shelf a little book, wherein he registered the names of those, by whose visits he felt particularly honored, and recorded my mother's name upon the list; he then, diffidently, but very respectfully, requested her acceptance of one of his Almanacs in ma.n.u.script.”

Within a few days after this visit Mrs. Mason addressed him in a poetical letter, which found its way into the papers of the section, and was generally read. The subjoined portions are sufficient to exhibit the character of the effusion. The admonitory lines at the end doubtless refer to his early addiction to strong drink.

”_An Address to_ BENJAMIN BANNEKER, _an African Astronomer, who presented the Author with a Ma.n.u.script Almanac in_ 1796.”

”Transmitted on the wings of Fame, Thine _eclat_ sounding with thy name, Well pleased, I heard, ere 'twas my lot To see thee in thy humble cot.

That genius smiled upon thy birth, And application called it forth; That times and tides thou could'st presage, And traverse the Celestial stage, Where s.h.i.+ning globes their circles run, In swift rotation round the sun; Could'st tell how planets in their way, From order ne'er were known to stray.

Sun, moon and stars, when they will rise, When sink below the upper skies, When an eclipse shall veil their light, And hide their splendor from our sight.

Some men whom private walks pursue, Whom fame ne'er ushered into view, May run their race, and few observe To right or left, if they should swerve, Their blemishes would not appear, Beyond their lives a single year.-- But thou, a man exalted high, Conspicuous in the world's keen eye, On record now, thy name's enrolled, And future ages will be told,-- There lived a man named BANNEKER, An African Astronomer!-- Thou need'st to have a special care, Thy conduct with thy talent square, That no contaminating vice, Obscure thy l.u.s.tre in our eyes.”

During the following year Banneker sent the following letter to his good friend Mrs. Mason:--

”_August 26th, 1797_.

”DEAR FEMALE FRIEND:--

”I have thought of you every day since I saw you last, and of my promise in respect of composing some verses for your amus.e.m.e.nt, but I am very much indisposed, and have been ever since that time. I have a constant pain in my head, a palpitation in my flesh, and I may say I am attended with a complication of disorders, at this present writing, so that I cannot with any pleasure or delight, gratify your curiosity in that particular, at this present time, yet I say my will is good to oblige you, if I had it in my power, because you gave me good advice, and edifying language, in that piece of poetry which you was pleased to present unto me, and I can but love and thank you for the same; and if ever it should be in my power to be serviceable to you, in any measure, your reasonable requests, shall be armed with the obedience of,

”Your sincere friend and well-wisher, ”BENJAMIN BANNEKER.

”MRS. SUSANNA MASON.

”N.B. The above is mean writing, done with trembling hands.